My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Carlos Ruiz’s best offensive day of his career is ruined by the pitching staff’s inability to hold onto a lead as the Phils lose to the Braves via an extra-innings, walk-off two-run home run, 15-13.

Carlos Ruiz’s best offensive day of his career is ruined by the pitching staff being unable to nail down several different leads before finally losing to the Braves in extra-innings on a Chipper Jones walk-off two-run home run, 15-13.

The Phils took the lead, while batting around, in the third as, with runners on the corners, and with one man out, Shane Victorino hits an RBI single, knocking in Jimmy Rollins, who had earlier singled, then stopped at third base on Placido Polanco’s single, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead, while sending Polanco, who had just singled, up to third base. Three batters later, now with the bases loaded, after Victorino had stolen second base, and with a walk by Hunter Pence, and with two men out, Laynce Nix hits a bases clearing double, knocking in Polanco, Victorino and Pence, giving the Phils a 4-0 lead. The Phils added to their lead in the fifth as, with one man on, and with one out, Carlos Ruiz hits an RBI double, knocking in Ty Wigginton, who had earlier singled, giving the Phils a 5-0 lead. The Phils then took a 6-0 lead as Freddy Galvis hits an RBI double of his own, scoring Ruiz. The Braves then came roaring back in their half of the fifth as, with the bases loaded, via singles by Chipper Jones, Erik Hinske and Tyler Pastornicky, and with one man out, Michael Bourn hits an RBI single, knocking in Jones, making it a 6-1 Phils’ lead, while moving both Hinske and Pastornicky up a base. The Braves then made it a 6-2 Phils’ lead as Martin Prado followed with an RBI infield single, knocking in Hinske, while moving up both Pastornicky and Bourn, as the bases remained loaded. Two batters later, as the bases stayed loaded, and now with two men out, Brian McCann hits a grand-slam home run, his fifth home run of the season, tying the ballgame at six-all. The Braves then took the lead in the sixth as, with two men on, and with one man out, pinch hitter Jason Heyward hits a two-run single, knocking in Hinske, who had earlier singled, then stopped at third base on Pastornicky’s double, and Pastornicky, who had just doubled, giving the Braves an 8-6 lead, while knocking Phils’ starter Roy Halladay out of the ballgame. The Phils would regain the lead in the seventh as, with two men on, and with nobody out, Ruiz hits a two-run home run, his fourth home run of the season, scoring Wigginton, who had earlier walked, then stopped at second base on pinch hitter John Mayberry, Jr.’s single, and pinch hitter Mayberry, who had just singled, giving the Phils a 9-8 lead. The Phils would increase their lead in the eighth as, with the bases loaded, via infield singles by Pence and Wigginton, with Pence stopping at second base, and a walk by Mayberry, and with two men out, Ruiz hits a bases clearing double, scoring Pence, Wigginton and Mayberry, giving the Phils a 12-8 lead. The Braves came back again in their half of the eighth as, with two men on, and with one man out, Pastornicky hits an RBI single, knocking in Dan Uggla, who had earlier singled, then reached second base on Rollins force attempt, fielding error on Jones’ grounder, making it a 12-9 Phils’ lead, while sending Jones, who was safe at first on Rollins’ error, up to second base. Two batters later, after Heyward had walked, loading up the bases as the runners both moved up a base, and with still one man out, Bourn walked to forced in a run, as Jones scored from third, making it a 12-10 Phils’ lead, while moving both Pastornicky and Heyward up a base, leaving the bases loaded. The Braves would then tied the game up at twelve-all as Prado would hit a two-run single, knocking in both Pastornicky and Heyward, while sending Bourn on to third base. The Braves then took a 13-12 lead as Freddie Freeman hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Bourn. The Phils would tie the game up at twelve-all in the ninth as, with a runner on second, and with two men on, Victorino hits an RBI infield single, as he beat out shortstop Jack Wilson’s throw to first, as pinch hitter Juan Pierre, who had started the inning off with a walk, then stole second base, would score all the way from second base. The Braves would then win the game in the eleventh as, with one man on, and with nobody out, Jones hits a two-run walk-off home run, his fourth home run of the year, scoring Uggla, who had started the inning off with a single, giving the Braves a walk-off win.

Roy Halladay received a no-decision as he went five and one-third innings, giving up eight runs on twelve hits, as he struck out five. Joe Savery pitched two-thirds of an inning, getting out both men that he would face, while striking out a batter. Antonio Bastardo collected his third hold of the season as he pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Jose Contreras pitched a third of an inning, as he gave up four runs, three of which were earned, on two hits and a walk, as he struck out one. Michael Schwimer blew his first save opportunity of the season as he pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up a run on a hit and a walk. Brian Sanches (0-1, 9.00) took the lost as he pitched two innings, plus two batters, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk, while he struck out two. Tommy Hanson also collected a no-decision as he went three and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, two walks and a hit batter, while he struck out three. Cristhian Martinez pitched an inning and a third, giving up two runs on three hits. Livan Hernandez pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Eric O’Flaherty blew his second save attempt as he pitched an inning, giving up three runs on two hits and a walk, while he struck out a batter. Kris Medlin pitched an inning, giving up three runs on three hits and a walk. Craig Kimbrel blew his first save attempt of the season, as he gave up a run on a hit and a walk, while striking out two. Jonny Venters pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two. Chad Durbin (1-0, 8.00) gets the win as he threw a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter.

The Phils had seventeen hits in the game with Placido Polanco (Singles), Shane Victorino (Singles, 2 RBIs) and Carlos Ruiz (2 Doubles, Home Run, 7 RBIs) all leading the ballclub with three hits apiece, followed by Ty Wigginton (Singles) and Laynce Nix (Single, Double, 3 RBIs) who had two hits each. Jimmy Rollins (Single), Hunter Pence (Single), Freddy Galvis (Double, RBI) and pinch hitter John Mayberry, Jr, (Single) having the other four Phils’ hit. With his seven RBI night, Ruiz because the first Phils’ catcher to knock in seven runs in one game. The Phils also had five walks and two stolen bases (Victorino (8), pinch hitter Juan Pierre (4)), on a night when the offense was let down by the pitching staff and by the defense (Rollins’ fielding error in the eight that helped open up the flood gates in that inning).

The Phils (12-13, 4th) have just completed playing their final game of the series with the Braves (15-10, 2nd).

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